MHRA issues guidance on all metal hip replacement

The MHRA in the UK has issued guidance on hip implants (large head implants) requiring blood tests to check for metal ions and to require a MRI if patients have raised metal levels due to breakup and consquent debris from all metal hips. The MHRA estimates that around 49 000 patients out of 69 000 all metal hip patients fall into the high risk category. All metal hip replacements are made by by Zimmer, Stryker, Corin, Biomet Implacast, Wright Medical, Joint Replacement Instrumentation and Finsbury/MatOrtho. Under the MHRI guidance doctors are being advised to consider removing and replacing implants if patients have abnormal MRI scans or if metal ions in the blood reach worrying levels. The new guidance does not affect all-metal hips under 36 mm in diameter or resurfacing systems with no stem sticking into the bone, such as Smith & Nephew's Birmingham Hip Resurfacing joints.